Bicycle driving-gear mechanism.



Patented Feb. 27, I900.

G. W. DEAFENBAIIGH. BICYCLE DRIVING GEAR MECHANISM. (Application filedDec. 6, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Shaets8heat I.

WITNESSES:

ATTEHNEYJ Patented Feb. 27, I900. G. W. DEAFENBAIIGH.

BICYCLE DRIVING GEAR MECHANISM.

(Application filed Dec. 6, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

/N VENTOI? W/TNESSES ATTORNEYS UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. DEAFENBAUGH, OF BELLAIRE, OHIO.

BICYCLE DRIVING-GEAR MECHANISM.

SPEoIFICATmN forming part of Letters Patent 0. 644,41 1, dated FebruaryApplication filed December 6; 1898. SerialNo. 6981442. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. IEAFEN- BAUGH, residing at Bellaire, inthe county of Belmont and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Bicycle Drive-Gear Mechanism, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention, which relates generally toimprovements in bicycles,refers more particularly to that class of bicycles having a'ariable-speed gearing including a plurality of drive-gears and a duplexarrangement of drive-chains, one set of gearing being arranged on eachside of the frame, which mechanism also includes suitable clutchdevices, whereby the drive mechanism at opposite sides may bealternately moved into or out of an operative condition.

My invention has for its object to provide a variable-speed gearof thecharacter stated of a very simple, economical, and stable construction,in which the several parts are so arranged as to produce a morepermanent parts are constructed so as to wconnected, all

and true alinement of the ball-races and the bearing members,- and inwhich the several be detachably connected.

In its more specific nature my invention comprehends a peculiar andnovel construction of hub members with which the drive gear-wheels maybe integrally or detachably of which will hereinafter be first describedin detail and then specifically pointed out in the appended claim,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is aside elevation of a bicycle. equipped with my improvements. Fig. 2 is atop plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the shifting clutchdevices, parts of the inclosing casin g being removed. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal section of the crank-axle shaft and the gear mechanismconnected therewith, taken practically on the line 4 4 of Fig. 5. Fig. 5is a transverse section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4' looking in thedirection of the arrow. Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating one end ofthe crank-axle, one of the fastening-cones, and the securing-nut. Fig. 7illustrates a modified arrangement of one of the hub'members, and Fig. 8is a detail view of one of the internal cuffs or ball-bearing membershereinafter specifically referred to. Referring to the accompanyingdrawings,

. in which like numerals indicate like parts in all the figures, 1indicates the bicycle-frame, which in its general arrangement may be ofthe ordinary safety type,with the exception that the rear-fork frame issufiiciently separated at the lower ends to admitof a proper 6o settingof the drive-chain at each side of the drive-wheel, as clearly shown inFig. 2, in which 2 indicates the drive-chain at one side, and 2 the drive-chain at the other side,which chains pass over chain-Wheels 3 3 onthe drive-Wheel axle.

By referring now more particularly to Fig. 4,.in which the constructionof the crankaxle and the component parts of the drivegearing is bestillustrated, 20 indicates the axle,which has a central enlarged portion20, g the extremities of which merge with the end portions of the axlein such manner as to form conical bearing portions 20" for the smallbearing-balls 5, which are held in place by the hub portions 5 of thedrive-Wheels 5 5. The construction of such hub port-ions, together withthe detachable tubular cuifs 6, forms theessential features of thisinvention. The hub members 5, it will be observed, project laterallyinward over the reduced ends of the crank-axle, their extremities beingprojected to lap over the enlarged or swelled portion 20 on the axle andprovided with clutch-recesses 5 said ends also having annular-ballracesor bearing portions 5 The hub members 5 on their outer faces are formedwith a ball-race 5 and from such races said hub members are curvedoutward, as at 5, to form a closure-face, against which the cones '7 areadapted to contact sufficiently to exclude dirt and dust from thebearingballs 7 which seat in the races 5 and the coincident ball-racesin the cones 7. The curving outward of the hubs, as stated, also servesanother purpose, as it admits of forming an internal ball-race 5 toreceive the large bearing-balls S, which are securely held I employ aframe tubing-section 14,

'tion 9 terminatin in to their proper position by thedetachable tubularends 6, provided with annular external flanges 6, adapted to fit theannular sea-ts 5 in the hubs 5, and each having a reduced portheshoulder 6, the purpose of which will presently appear. The enlarged orswell portion 20 of the shaft has a feather or key 10, on which is heldfor lateral adjustment and to turn with the axle the sliding clutch 11,the opposite ends of which terminate in end clutch-lugs 11, which whenthe said clutch member is properly shifted are adapted to alternatelyengage with the clutch-recesses of the hubs, as clearly'shown in Fig. 3,and to, providefor conveniently and easily shifting the clutchbearing-pin .13, mounted on a and having its end extended outside ofsuch casing, preferably crumed on a i to the rear thereof, as shown inFig. 5, and

rear of the seat-post 17,

- said hub members,

- so as to receive first fitted onto the crank-axle,

being. understood slotted,-as at 13, to receive the crank end 15 of therock-lever 15, suitably journaled on the projected within convenientreach of the drivers seat. So far as described it will be readilyobserved that by shifting the lever 15 the rider can adjust the clutchto engage with either of the hubs at opposite sides of the machine, orhe can set the clutch centrally of the thereby permit the machine to runfree, particularly on declivities, as the rider rests his feet on thepedals.

It will be understood that when the clutch is shifted into engagementwith the drivegear at one side the drive chain and gear at the otherside will run free, it being also obvious that the relative diameters ofthe drivewheels 5 may be as desired.

In the practical application of my inventionit is intended that the hubmembers be constructed with flanges, as shown in Fig. 6, the drive-gears5 of difi'ferent diameters, which may be secured thereto by suitableballs or clamps.

In the assembling of the parts constituting my mechanism the slidingclutch member is after which the drive-gears, with their hubs and thecufi members, are secured on their respective ends on the crank-axle,itbein g understood that before the hubs, with their cuff members, arefitted together the casin g 14 is properly placed in position. Theoutercone 7 is then fitted over the threaded end 20 of the axle, after whichthe jam-nut 18 is made tight on the threaded portion of the axle and awasher-19 fitted thereagainst, after which the adjacent 6.)

pedal member is made secure to the extremity of the threaded end of theaxle, as shown, it that as the nut is screwed home and the twodrive-Wheels are drawn toward each other the shouldered portions of thetubular cuff members 6 are tightly im- 'ings of the drive-gearsbifurcated shifting-lever 12, fu1-' and having a handle as shown in Fig.3, andpingedagainst the end 'of the casing 13, and thereby securely heldin place, it being understood that the casing in practice is secured tothe framework, so as to be rigidly held, such casingforming a positivedust-or dirt excluding cap and also a means-for properly guiding andholding the extended portions of the cuff members in proper position.

It will thus be seen by constructing the. hub members asshown anddescribed a very simple form of mechanism for the purposes is provided,which can be very economically constructed, with the ball-races arrangedin 1 such manner as to properly equalize the bearon the axle-frame, suchconstruction admitting of the ready disconnecting and assemblingof theparts and an easy application of the bearing-balls.

The several parts, while having a very stable and firm connection witheach other, are so joined as to reduce the gripping or. torsional strainthereof to a minimum. urthermore, the arrangement ofithe several partsconstituting the improvements is such that they can be easily andeconomically manufactured, and in the case of breakage of any one of theparts a new part can supplied without requiring any changes of theremaining parts. a

It is obvious that my form" of axle-bearin gs may be used on bicycleshaving but a single drive-chain, in which event one of the hubs may beformed without driving-gear-attaching means, example, in Fig. 7.

By arranging the different ball-races in the manner shown moreparticularly in Fig. 4 the drive-gears will have a uniformbearingsurface against the casing of the frame, and thereby overcome anytendency of an irregular or rocker action onthe bearing-balls riding onthe shaft and the similar balls riding on the cones.

Having thus I claim, and desire cut, is-

As an improvement in bicycle drive-gearing, the combination with thedrive-gear; the crank-axle, said axle having a centrally-enlargedportion terminating at the ends in ballraces and having a threaded end;a drivegear mounted on each as shown, for

be readily I any drive-gear or i end of the axle each having an internalannular groove or socket;

each having an inwardly-extending hub portion having its innerend,projected over the enlarged portion of the axle and terminating inclutch members; and a ball race or groove to receive the bearing-balls5,said hubs having ball-races 5 on their outer faces andoutwardly-curved portions 5 forming the counterpart of thebearing-cones; the bearing-cones; the said outwardly-curved portionsforming ball-races on their inner;

sides, said races terminating in annular depressed seats 5; thedetachable cuffs 6, hav- A ing shouldered portions 6, adapted to projectwithin the annular grooves or seats 5 of the drive-gear hubs, said cuffshaving races adapted to bear against the bearing-balls 8; a casingsurrounding the clutch mechanism, said casing forming a fixed part ofthe bicycleframe, the ends thereof abutting the shoulder 6 of the culfs;the look-nuts 18 and the pedals; the sliding clutch 11, mounted on thecrank-axle shaft and means for operating IO said clutch, all beingarranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

GEORGE W. DEAFENBAUG'II. Witnesses:

D. W. COOPER,

A. I. DEAFENBAUGH.

